Youth Nonprofit - Program Manager

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts Student Trainer Program Manager Job Description

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering urban youth through athletics, academics, and employment opportunities. We use martial arts as a vehicle to create positive, supportive relationships with our students, as well as teach key values such as persistence and determination.

Position Summary

The Program Manager at Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts (LG) is responsible for overseeing key components of the Student Trainer Program, supporting youth through mentorship and other direct services, and providing administrative program support. This role requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering environment for youth and community members. Preferred candidates are have classroom teaching experience in Boston Public Schools. The role is in-person at the Level Ground Gym and Training center located on 1490 Dorchester Ave, Boston MA. Position responsibilities include:

• Providing direct service to teenagers in our Student Trainer Program (50% of time)
• Supporting administrative components of the Student Trainer Program (50% of time)

Detailed Roles and Responsibilities

Student Trainer Program - Direct Service (50%) - 3pm - 7pm

• Greet and check in with students upon arrival
• Follow up with students who are late or absent
• Keep overall and per class attendance records up to date
• Oversee smooth transitions between program activities
• Monitor student behavior during all program activities
• Check in with students if they are noting any negative emotions in the welcome survey
• Oversee daily study times for youth, provide academic tutoring, and manage tutors
• Build strong relationships with students
• Connect mental health resources or tutoring support as needed
• Support students in completing post-high school pathway paperwork / applications (I.e., trades, internships, jobs)
• Supervise and assess youth-led classes at LG and program partners to ensure consistency and quality

Student Trainer Program - Administrative Support (50%) - 11-3 pm

• Maintain communication with Student Trainer parents regarding progress and updates
• Develop and Maintain communication with teachers for students who are failing classes or in danger of failing classes, in order to support youth towards grade improvement.
• Analyze survey data and make recommendations to enhance student and stakeholder experience
• Provide student updates during staff meetings
• Organize Student Trainer Program events that occur during program hours
• Support curation of student resources to support students (mental health resources, scholarship resources, internship opportunities, etc)
• Support with curriculum development of programming during the school year and summer program
• Support with development of summer programming and student recruitment
• Support with tabling at events to promote Level Ground Programming and Opportunities

Schedule

Direct service to youth, gym operations, and athletic programming responsibilities take place Monday - Friday 3-7 pm onsite at our Training Center during the school year (1490 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester). During the summer, you may expect earlier start times in conjunction with the earlier program start times. Administrative responsibilities may take place remotely.

Management & Support

The Program Manager will report directly to the Program Director. Expect to receive additional mentorship, support, and supervision from the Executive Director as needed.

Qualifications and Skills

Level Ground is seeking an enthusiastic, adaptable, and skilled new member of our team!

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Minimum 3 years of full-time experience in working with youth in a nonprofit or school setting in Boston ability to implement youth programming in a workforce development setting
• Experience with implementing trauma-informed or restorative practices for managing student behavior
• Excellent organizational and management skills
• Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication
• Proficient computer skills, including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, knowledge of customer relations software
• Values youth athletics as a pathway and powerful driver of successful outcomes for youth
• Values honesty, integrity, and empathy as the fabric of all successful social ventures and lives that value
• Values youth development beyond traditional educational pipelines [i.e. alternatives to four-year college]
• Values building and maintaining relationships with urban youth and youths of color
• Enthusiasm and current practice in sports, athletics and/or fitness
• Passionate, committed, flexible, adaptive, and fun to be around

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Classroom full-time teaching experience in a school setting
• Experience working in multiracial, multicultural organizations
• Has deep understanding of the communities of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan through firsthand experience [lives or has previous work experience in the community]

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time position. The Program Manager role is a full-time position, with a $70,000/year salary. Benefits include health insurance reimbursement of up to federally-allowable threshold under QSEHRA guidelines, employer-sponsored 401(k) with 4% match, professional development fund, 21 days of paid time off (PTO) annually, and unlimited sick days.

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or Vietnam era, or other eligible veteran status, or any other protected factor.

Application

Interested candidates should email cover letter and resume to ricardo@levelgroundmma.org and ali@levelgroundmma.org. Please provide 3 professional references. References must be able to speak about your experience as a youth worker.